Residents Decry Attacks During Political Ward Meetings In Enugu

Following Saturday’s attacks during ward meetings of the Nigeria Democratic Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party at separate communities in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, the residents have called for decorum among political stakeholders ahead of the 2027 general elections.

THE WHISTLERreports that the first incident occurred at the Ndiuno-Obuoffia community, where it was alleged that armed hoodlums disrupted NDC ward meeting with sporadic shooting and injured two attendees. The second occurred at St Joseph’s Primary School, Agbani, where hoodlums also allegedly destroyed canopies and chairs prepared for a PDP rally.

Our correspondent gathered that scores of individuals were injured and some property destroyed. Speaking on the incidents, Pastor Joseph Okigbo, from Ugbawka, warned that such acts might plunge the state into chaos which will not augur well for the residents of the state. He said it would create fear in the polity, and could attract reprisals.

According to him, “I’m yet to know those behind the attacks. But we should practice politics of maturity this time around. What happened in the state in 2023 when a senatorial candidate was burnt alive should not be allowed to repeat itself. If ward meetings are being attacked, how do you expect the citizenry to exercise their franchise?”

“The fear has started,” reveals Sunday Ogbodo, from Agbani. “One of the injured is a person I know very well. If we start to record thuggery at ward meetings, what will happen when the elections get closer? I’m beginning to think that democracy has to do with maturity. Our leaders are afraid of opposition. They make power lie with leaders and not the electorate. I want security agencies to bring the perpetrators to book. Enugu deserves tranquil political atmosphere ahead of the 2027 polls.”

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, CP Mamman Giwa, has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to investigate the two separate incidents of alleged disruption of political gatherings, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to book.

A release from the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, said police operatives were promptly deployed to both scenes upon receipt of the reports to prevent further breaches and track down the fleeing suspects. He however said no prior notification or request for police security coverage for either gathering was provided to the police.

CP Giwa, in the statement, reiterated the position he conveyed during his meeting with leaders of political parties in the state that all political activities “must be conducted peacefully and in accordance with the law”. He stressed that electoral offences remain punishable under the law and warned political parties, candidates, supporters and other stakeholders against violence, intimidation, destruction of property or any conduct capable of disrupting public peace and the electoral process.

The commissioner urged political parties and stakeholders to promptly notify the police of their campaigns, meetings, rallies and other gatherings to facilitate appropriate security arrangements. He assured the public that the command would continue to maintain a peaceful and secure environment for lawful political activities and deal decisively with anyone who violates the law.

In another development, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has condemned what it called “the unprovoked and dastardly attack on its members during a peaceful grass-roots meeting in Obuoffia Ward”.

The party, in a release signed by its National Publicity Secretary,
OSA Director, alleged that the attack was state-sponsored. He said “the incessant assault on our members by state-sponsored thugs must stop”.

Quoting him, “As a registered political party, we have every constitutional right to participate in the democratic process through peaceful assembly. No amount of intimidation will silence this constitutionally guaranteed right. The violence visited on NDC members in Enugu and other parts of the South-East is an affront to Nigeria’s democracy and a direct attack on the freedom of association guaranteed by the constitution. No individual and no political party has a monopoly on violence. Those sponsoring thugs to attack NDC members should know that we reserve the right to self-defence. No further attack on our members will be tolerated.”

The party charged security agencies to be unbiased and proactive in attending to security issues across the state. Quoting the statement, “We condemn the complacency and lackadaisical attitude of the security agencies towards the opposition in Enugu and across the South-East. Their failure to act promptly and decisively has emboldened these attackers. The NDC has previously been attacked twice in Imo State during a town hall meeting and consultation by the party’s senatorial candidate, Uche Onyeogocha.”

It claimed that the ruling APC in Enugu State “is jittery and disturbed by the growing momentum of the NDC”, adding that, “No one can prevent the NDC from exercising its right to democratic participation in the 2027 general elections”.

Our correspondent reports that Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa, guber candidate of NDC, and Chief Uchenna Nnaji, PDP’s governorship candidate, in the 2027 general elections, hail from Nkanu West LGA.